Bandwidth explained:
Bandwidth is the amount of data transfer that you are allowed to have for a hosting package i.e. Let's say you have a web page that is 48KB in size, now each time a user opens your site and goes to that page S/he downloads 48 KB of information on to their computer. If a 100 users view that page one time each then there has been a total of 4800 KB of data transferred from the server on which your files are stored for the computer of users.
Size of web Page: 48 KB
Number of users who viewed the web page: 100
Total amount of data transferred: 48KB * 100 = 4800 KB
Bandwidth is the term that is used to denote the amount of data that has been transferred from your web space.
The amount of bandwidth that you require while choosing a host depends on two factors:
> The size of your site.
> The popularity of your site.
If your site is not very huge and you do not have any audio/video downloads and it's not very popular i.e. not a lot of people visit your site then you do not really require a lot of bandwidth, on a average a web site uses up only 500 MB of bandwidth per month. Or if your site is small but extremely popular then you might have to go for a web hosting package that offers high bandwidth.
On the other hand if your web site is huge, providing audio/video downloads, as well as being very popular then you would certainly require a huge amount of bandwidth. Let's say you have a video file that is 150 MB in size and in a single day a 100 visitors download the file. This means that 15 GB of bandwidth will have been used. If you multiply that by 30 days for the month it comes to 450 GB.
The unlimited bandwidth controversy
For some time now a lot of hosting companies are supposedly providing "unlimited bandwidth" for their web hosting packages.
It's absolutely true, you can have unlimited bandwidth. However, you will need an unlimited amount of money by your side! Jokes apart, if you ever come across such a host it would be best to turn around and run back the way you came from.
Just think, if you can get unlimited bandwidth for $25-30 a month then why aren't big companies like Sun, Microsoft etc. not hosted there? In fact, why isn't everyone hosted there? For that matter, if unlimited is a standard feature then why don't all the hosts offer it? Is it because it is expensive and requires better hardware? No, it's because some hosts are honest and don't give in to such gimmicks.
Statistically speaking, a T1 Internet connection (huge broadband) equals approximately 500GB per month and costs around $1200 per month. So how can it be possible to get the same or unlimited for $30 a month?
There are a lot of ways you can be duped by these ' unlimited' hosts; here are just a few of them:
The secret of 'unlimited' is actually buried in the Terms of Service by the host. Do not be surprised to find that unlimited = 15 GB.
The host may restrict the sort of files that you can host on their server. Generally image galleries and audio/video files attract a lot more downloads thereby resulting in higher bandwidth consumption. So if there are no files of this type, your site won't really require a lot of bandwidth.
Some newly opened hosts use it as a scam. They take your money and after a few months when their server starts to become slow or reaches its limit, they run? with your money!
Some hosts outline in their Terms of Service that you can have unlimited bandwidth as long as you qualify for it. i.e. Your site must use less then, let's say 2 GB of bandwidth in order to qualify for the unlimited bandwidth feature. As soon as your site goes over that limit they either start charging you for it or cut off your downloads altogether.
In life it's a universal truth that you always get what you pay for, and it's no different for web hosting.
If a host is using a cheap advertising gimmick like 'unlimited' bandwidth they maybe lying about a few other things too. Their 'dedicated' support team could be a single person (the hoster itself in most cases) sitting in front of a computer and taking your calls.
Do you really want unlimited bandwidth hosting from hosts that have very limited resources at their disposal? Or, do you want to go for a host that has spent thousands of dollars on setting up a good network infrastructure, servers, and a highly qualified and dedicated support team? The choice ultimately is yours and yours alone.
Ashish Jain
M6.Net Web Helpers
http://www.m6.net
1. The reliability of the service and their offers.A brand... Read More
After you have spent some time and creativity on designing... Read More
Dedicated web hosting has its difficulties and problems from time... Read More
Nowadays, anybody can afford to order a feature-packed web hosting... Read More
What is a Dedicated / Virtual Dedicated server and why... Read More
Many people think that all web hosts offer the same... Read More
Managed Hosting Services are used primarily by companies that either... Read More
Web Hosting is a service. Auto mechanics also provide a... Read More
Web Hosting AdviceChoosing a web hosting company to host your... Read More
The next concern for you after designing and developing web... Read More
Blogging is an abbreviation of "web-logging". The simplest definition of... Read More
Selecting a web hosting company is like sending one of... Read More
Finding a good and reliable web hosting company is like... Read More
In this article you'll be provided with helpful information about... Read More
Reseller webhosting can be a great way to earn some... Read More
Every website needs a great web host, however when you... Read More
Whether you are disgruntled with the level of service your... Read More
We often see server uptime statistics when looking for hosting... Read More
A Virtual Private Server (VPS), also referred to as Virtual... Read More
Any website comprises the following ? Domain name, Webspace, Webpages.Lets... Read More
With so many web hosting companies competing for your web... Read More
Every individual when it starts surfing the net for choosing... Read More
There are many things to consider when setting up your... Read More
"Unmanaged dedicated servers" - this is a pretty uninviting term... Read More
In search of a webhosting company for personal or small... Read More
Bandwidth explained:Bandwidth is the amount of data transfer that you... Read More
This article is meant to all who already have a... Read More
Ever heard the saying "Penny-wise and Dollar-foolish"?Well bargain priced website... Read More
You took the leap. You set up a website to... Read More
A few time ago appeared a lot disagreements between opinions... Read More
Many businesses, from one-man-bands to multi-national corporations, have a web-presence... Read More
It's time to choose! Should you spend some money to... Read More
When talking about free anything the legitimate question that first... Read More
The internet is one of the world's top sources of... Read More
In this article you'll be provided with helpful information about... Read More
Here are some things you should know before finding a... Read More
With so many web hosting companies competing for your web... Read More
If you are anything like me, you'd probably like to... Read More
It's time to choose! Should you spend some money to... Read More
Choosing a budget web hosting company can be overwhelming. In... Read More
After the dot.com bubble burst a few years back I... Read More
With hundreds of web hosting companies to choose from today... Read More
If you're about to set up your first web site... Read More
A Virtual Private Server (VPS), also referred to as Virtual... Read More
Finding reliable hosting for your business opportunity is no small... Read More
When it comes to web hosting, the quality of the... Read More
Web hosting can best be described as a modern-day marriage:... Read More
Web hosting can be an exciting business start up for... Read More
You're not alone! Many people are bound to the old... Read More
Web Hosting in 2005 --- Finding the Niche and Cashing... Read More
Dedicated web hosting has its difficulties and problems from time... Read More
For the "big things" to be build it was certainly... Read More
Bandwidth in its simplest terms refers to the amount of... Read More
If there's one thing that people love it is a... Read More
With a little advanced planning, moving your domain to a... Read More
Choosing the right web server will be one of the... Read More
There are several types of hosting. Among them are:Free hosting... Read More
Any website comprises the following ? Domain name, Webspace, Webpages.Lets... Read More
Well? you've purchased a domain name? created a pretty design?... Read More
Have you ever gone car shopping with a former car... Read More
Blogging is an abbreviation of "web-logging". The simplest definition of... Read More
Here are the following three methods that can help you... Read More
Whether you are disgruntled with the level of service your... Read More
When service at your web hosting company is lacking, or... Read More
One of the most common concerns people have when deciding... Read More
What is Dedicated Web Hosting? Dedicated web hosting can alleviate... Read More
Web Hosting |